Col. Louis J. Storck joined the U.S. Army in 1918 and served in World War I. Following the war he was discharged and attended West Point in 1919. Storck was not gifted academically and was nearly expelled for poor grades. But as a star on the football team he was saved by West Point Superintendent Brig. Gen. Douglas Macarthur and in 1922 Storck kicked the winning field goal against Navy.
In his time in the army, he was the Executive officer for the 4th Armored Division, Commander of Combat Command R, and the 37 Armored Regiment, Commander of the 704th Tank destroyer Battalion during WWII. Each Combat Command in the division had one m-5 stuart light tank and 3 m-4 sherman medium tanks. The CCR had only 3 officers and 5 enlisted men. They weren't often employed on independent missions. He was responsible for training the division's armored infantry battalions and was affectionately nicknamed "Black Lou" by them.
In 1943, he went to England to prepare for the invasion of Europe. The 4th Armored Division was included in D-Day and landed on Utah Beach on July. Around midday, June 27th, German resistance was crumbling. The allies began to push into Coutances, France. The 4th armored division sent people capture the fleeing Germans. They navigated through land mines and proceeded to capture germans that had fallen behind the main force. However, on Jul. 30 1944, during the mission to capture Coutances, France, Col. Louis J. Storck and his radio-operator jeep ran over a mine and they both died instantly. Storck was awarded the Silver Star, posthumously, for gallantry in action. He was also awarded a Legion of Merit.
To whom awarded. The Legion of Merit is awarded to any member of the United States or of friendly nation who has distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements.(New York National Guard Federal Award and Decoration
Issuance Procedures)
The Silver Star, is the third-highest military decoration for valor awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces. Any uniformed servicemember may receive the medal, which is awarded for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States.